For the fourth time, professional baseball is returning to Hawai'i. The Maui-based Na Koa Ikaika Maui is one of two new franchises that will debut this season in the independent Golden Baseball League, which begins play May 19.

The Waikiki BeachBoys' momentum from their division-clinching win the night before carried over to their Hawaii Winter Baseball championship win against the West Oahu CaneFires, 5-1, on a sunny Nov. 16 at Les Murakami Stadium on the University of Hawaii campus.

For the casual fan of Hawaii Winter Baseball, players aren't quite household names yet, so it's difficult to remember who belongs to what organization and where these players come from. But for Jason Castro, it's pretty easy: He's Castro the Astro from Castro Valley, Calif.

Before he faced the North Shore Honu on the field, Waikiki BeachBoys infielder Todd Frazier got up close and personal with a real honu, or a Hawaiian sea turtle. During one of Hawaii Winter Baseball's off days, Frazier and a couple of teammates went to Hanauma Bay, a popular tourist attraction on Oahu. At this nature preserve, marine life is not threatened by people who wish to swim with the fish.<br/>

Perhaps the laid back atmosphere of Hawaii is just what Buster Posey needs. Since the Giants made him the fifth overall selection in the June draft, Posey has zipped through their minor league system like one of his throws to second base.

North Shore manager Kevin Bradshaw got the obligatory water cooler treatment after his Honu were declared champions of the 2007 Hawaii Winter Baseball season, but he wasn't the only one to get wet. Monday night's championship between the Honu and Waikiki BeachBoys at Hans L'Orange Park was canceled because of rain.